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Sunday, October 31, 2010

Happy Hallowe'en and Happy Samhain

HAPPY HALLOWE'EN AND HAPPY SAMHAIN!

Tonight is the night that children around the world will dress up in costumes and go door to door trick or treating. Little ghosts and goblins, superheroes and witches will line the streets of most towns collecting as much candy as possible. I did it as a child and it was wonderful fun.

BUT...

It's also a holiday that is celebrated by pagans and wiccans around the world. It is also known as Samhain. Roughly translated it means summer's end and marks the end of the final harvest of the year. It signifies the end of the lighter days of the year and hearlds the darker ones to come.

The custom of wearing costumes was an attempt to copy or placate the gods. To pay tribute to them. And pumpkin carving...well, it was originally turnips that were carved with scary faces and lit with candles in an attempt to drive away evil spirits.

It is the day of the year when many believe the veil is thinnest between the world of the living and the land of the dead. Many pay homage to their relatives who have passed over. It is a day of introspection, divination and celebration.

No matter how you celebrate the day, I hope you have a fun and safe holiday.